Dental health of elderly in retirement homes of two cities in south Croatia--a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE A survey of dental health status was conducted in institutionalized elderly in South Croatia in order to assess the oral health of the elderly population. PARTICIPANTS In 274 institutionalised elderly from five retirement homes in Split and Korcula we registered dental status according to World Health Organization criteria. The mean age of the patients was 81 +/- 8; there were 220 female and 54 male subjects. RESULTS A total of 192 (70.0%) were totally edentulous, and additional 39 (14.2%) were edentulous in one jaw. A significantly higher prevalence of edentulousness with the increasing age was recorded. The mean number of remaining sound teeth, decayed teeth and radices relictae in the elderly decreased with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS The elderly population in retirement homes in South Croatia has poor dental health. This calls for action to improve dental health and implement some special features in the dental health service programs for the institutionalised elderly.